Meet Leanne Emery of Triskele Moon Studios

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leanne Emery.

Leanne, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have been doing some form of art all my life. I started drawing at the age of 7, free-handing my favorite Disney characters and Holly Hobbie pics. My art education continued through my academic years, mostly through school related curriculum & private art lessons after school & weekends. I was accepted into the commercial illustration program at the Art Institute of Atlanta right out of high school, but only made it through the first semester when I realized this was not for me.

Then, I became artistically silent for many years. I still did my drawings & paintings, but life become bigger than my art voice & it continued to grow more silent as I got older. When I moved to Chicago in ’95, that voice could no longer be repressed & I picked up my brushes once again. The voice then changed in timbre and become a roar when I began community art classes and discovered my love of creating jewelry. And that, as they say, was when it all began.

I then moved out to Crystal Lake in 2001 and continued my self-education through metals and ceramics courses at our local community college for a few years. Unbeknownst to me, this was all the big set-up for what was to come next. Precious Metal Clay (aka PMC) hit my radar around 2005. For those unfamiliar with this material, it is exactly as its name states.

It is precious metal particles (silver, gold, copper, brass) embedded in a workable, malleable type of clay. I have stumbled upon my holy grail of mediums! I can paint with it / create 3-D pieces with it / sculpt / carve / torch / bend / puncture / hammer / patina … I remember taking my very first class in this medium, promptly ordering a $500 kiln after the class (trusting that I would somehow find the funds to pay for such an extravagant spur-of-the-moment purchase) and announcing to my long-suffering husband that this stuff has officially changed my life. And it has.

Working with this material affords me to use all my skill sets and continues to push me into new realms. I love a good challenge – I guess that’s what keeps me going – and in 2005 I also decided it was high time to take this jewelry stuff to the next level. So, one fine early spring day, (Feb. 2 to be exact), I marched myself up to the Woodstock Courthouse and officially registered my jewelry business, Triskele Moon Studios.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I can honestly say that I have never regretted doing what I do. The satisfaction it gives me cannot be measured, despite the occasional upheavals, aggravation and exhaustion of running a small business. With that said, I thrive on the challenges each day presents as I see them as opportunities for growth, in both my personal and creative life.

My biggest obstacle is TIME. I always need more of it and I’m not exactly a master of managing the time that I do have. There’s so much I want to do … new designs are always waiting for me on the bench, promotional work, new display ideas and show preps. It can become overwhelming at times.

I need minions. A whole passel of them.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Triskele Moon Studios – what should we know?
I’m most proud that my work has become recognizable and is being consistently sought out. Triskele Moon Studios’ pieces are held in private collections throughout the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, Germany and the United Kingdom.

I feel that what sets me apart is sharing the stories of how each piece was inspired with others. It is the soul of the piece. Every single piece of jewelry I create has a story. Every. Single. One. I love to tell anyone interested in knowing the history of a particular design, as I feel it creates a more memorable experience. Even if the item is not purchased, its story has been told and a seed has been sown.

I never know what will resonate strongly with those who hear what the piece has to say. Sometimes I have no idea why I am compelled to make a Standing Stone pendant with the wild Irish night blustering in the background until a woman with tears streaming down her face shares with me the powerful experience she just had visiting such a place. Or those who willingly share with me their personal struggles and find a talisman, or who take comfort in whatever piece speaks strongly to them. They can wear that; they are validating their strengths.

THAT is why I make jewelry. It’s that deep level of connection with another soul. It opens doors of expression and emotions. It makes others happy. It makes ME happy to not only create but to get the chance to see/hear there is a gift in that creation. I would have to say that is the driving force behind my creativity, my business, and why I do what I do.

I have a hard time describing a specialty because I’m interested in so many types of fabrications. My studio interests consist of wirework, metalsmithing, chain-making, chain maille, stone setting in traditional and non-traditional styles, and just recently I’ve added brazing to my repertory. That said, what I’m best known for is my PMC work – specifically, my Celtic tree pendants.

I am not a production artist, it’s very hard for me to work like that. I’m very methodical and one design can take me days or even a week to get it to my satisfaction. Everything has to have a reason, a purpose. I tend to put a lot of thought into my signature designs. I like for it to carry some form of symbology, meaning, a tie-in to something deeper in our psyche.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Integrity, approachability and engagement are the core values of Triskele Moon Studios.

I think the success of Triskele Moon Studios lies in a connection with each and every individual. The ability to share the stories of my pieces allows me to forge a unique bond with my clientele.

Contact Info:

• Email: leanne@triskelemoon.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/triskelemoon/

Image Credit:
Leanne Emery of Triskele Moon Studios, Sheila Correia

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